Adjustable dance floor support



Feb. 27, 1934. w. B. TEMPLETON ADJUSTABLE DANCE FLOOR SUPPORT Filed Aug. 15, 1931 J10 9 11 aim .9

Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT) OFFICE Application August 15,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in dance floors and the like and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a floor especially adapted for use in dancing, which yields but does not sway under the movement of the dancers thereon, whereby the dancers readily acquire the rhythmic action that accords with the accompanying music, thus making such dancing more graceful and easy and less fatiguing whether the dance be a solo or a couple dance.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a dance floor which can be readily set up, upon turf for outdoor use or can be set up, upon a second floor unfit for dancing and which dance floor may be readily leveled regardless of the unevenness of the turf or other foundation upon which it is so set up.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dance floor including jack like supporting members including weight supporting springs which yield in accordance with the movement .of the dancers upon the floor, and which sup- "porting members are adjustable in height to "proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:--

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of a dance floor embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale through one of the jack like supporting and leveling members forming a part of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the member shown in Fig. 2 as taken on the line 3--3 of said Fig. 2.

In general my improved floor includes the usual stringers and platform or flooring boards and the entire floor can be made either as a unitary structure or as a sectional one for easy --assembly and disassembly.

In connection therewith, certain jack like supporting members are employed under desired parts of the floor and preferably in line with certain of the stringers thereof and these members are adjustable in height for easy leveling of the floor and each includes a spring so arranged as to take the weight of the floor which yields in the movement of the dancers thereon.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment 1931. Serial No. 557,261

of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, 1 indicates as a whole the floor which comprises edgewise disposed stringers 2--2 and the flooring 2 secured thereto to provide the usual dance surface.

In connection with the floor there is provided a plurality of jack like supporting members 3--3' disposed at different points beneath the floor inline with the desired stringers. Each member as shown herein comprises a footing of base plate 4 which can be readily made from a piece of sheet metal of suitable thickness and of any desired area and shape. As shown herein, said footing or base plate is rectangular. Rising centrally from the same is a screw threadedpost 5 which has a part 6 of reduced diameter at its bottom end fitted and welded in a suitable opening provided centrally in the footing or base plate as best shown in Fig. 2. This post which is of a suitable height has square threads thereon.

Disposed on said post is a nut 'l which when turned in one direction or the other, travels endwise upon said post. Said nut includes a tubular, internally threaded body 8 having a fiat radial flange 9 at its top end of a diameter substantially greater than that of the body and provided on its top surface at its periphery with a plurality of arcuately spaced, upstanding lugs 10. At diametrically opposite sides of the body are radially extending ears 11 each having a hole 12 therein, to receive a bar or other suitable tool providing that leverage whereby the nut may be turned upon the post under load.

Seated upon the nut flange 9 within the lugs 10 is a substantially heavy, helical expansion spring 13 that surrounds that part of the post above the nut. Preferably the bottom coil or turn of said spring is ground fiat for a good seating engagement upon the nut flange 9.

The top coil or turn of said spring is also ground flat to engage a cap plate 14. This cap plate which may also be made from a piece of sheet metal similar to that employed for the footing or base 4, is provided at its center with a depressed cup 15 to enter the top end of the spring 13 to center the same. While this cap piece may be loose with respect to its associated end of the spring, it may also be welded thereto at 16, if so desired. When said cap is so welded to the spring, the jack like supporting and evening member, may be shipped as a unitary structure ready for application to the floor with which it is to be used.

In use, the supporting members are placed beneath the desired points of the floor and preferably in line with the desired stringers. Should the turf or other foundation beneath the floor be uneven, then the nut 7 of the desired supporting member is turned in the proper direction to decrease or increase the total height of the supporting member from footing to cap piece so that unequalities in such turf or foundation may be compensated for. Of course, the springs of the various supporting members are substantially matched in compression strength so that when the various members have been adjusted to level the floor, the give or yield in all parts of the same is substantially equal.

It is pointed out that with the spring surrounding the top portion of the associated post, said post so holds the spring as to prevent lateral swaying of the floor but does not in any way interfere with the yield or give of the floor in the plane of said posts.

It has been found that in dancing upon such a floor, it is easier to attain that rhythmic movement which accords with the accompanying dance music so that dancing upon such a floor becomes more graceful. This is indeed helpful in teaching the art of dancing to beginners.

Another feature is that as the floor yields, the leg muscle strain is reduced whereby less effort is required and fatigue is reduced in proportion so that persons can with enjoyment dance for longer periods of time.

The improved floor is advantageous in all kinds of dancing, such as ball room, ballet, tap or acrobatic dancing and either solo or in couples as it increases the ease of such dancing and the grace which naturally follows such ease.

My improved floor can be easily erected for either outdoor or indoor dancing and therefore is especially advantageous, at carnivals, fairs, lawn fetes, beach parties and other places where it is desired to erect dance floors whether temporary or permanent.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts thereof, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a structure of the kind described a base member and a cap member, the latter being adapted for engagement with the part to be supported, a screw post associated with the base, a nut on said post adjustable toward and away from the cap member and a spring fixed at one end to said cap member and having a bearing engagement at its other end upon said nut.

2. A device for adjustably and resiliently supporting floors and the like, comprising in combination, a bottom member and a top member, the latter adapted for engagement with the floor, a screw post projecting from one of said members toward the other, a nut on said post adapted to travel along the post, and a coiled spring engaging at one end the nut, and at the other end one of said members, and surrounding a part of said Dost.

WALTER Bl TEMPLETON. 

